The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-03-26
MEMPHIS DAILY APPEAI--sATURDAY MARCH e. 1887

the burden OF his TAX being that
peace had been made with God.
$50 you will face death brsvely?"
asked q bystsnder.
"Dat / will. feels like a soldier
now, but didn't when you all WAS
pintin' dem pistols at me er while ago.
All l ak NV yer Is to think as we'll NV
me as yer can. I've done wrong, and
know it, but it's human n ture. l
saved de Chi onct, an injured her
agin, as I looks at it."
Then / is sead fell forward, and he
would have nothing to, say until I'D.
dressed by some one.
MARCH TO THE GALLONS.
At las O'Clock the prison doors
were unlocked, and the procession
formed 10 march to the gallo Va In the
courthouse ysrd and about 200 yards
distsnt. Sheriff Werner led the way,
closely followed by the prisoner, sup.
ported by the jailer and another col
ored man. Then came number Of
armed guards, aud surrounding these
a crowd Of curious people. Johnson
was tightly bound, and this fact, added
to his plainly evident shaky nerves,
caused him to lean heavily upon his
supporters. He was assisted up the
scaffold steps, and fell rather heavily
upon a chair placed there for him.
His ewes wandered listessy over the
assem- olsge, and seemingly recognized
no one. The death warrant Was read,
after which the condemned was askC d
il he desired to make a statement.
A RAMBLING HARANGUE
Probably more for the purpose CT
clinging to life than anything else,
johnson ,owly rose TO his feet and
began talk, to which there was
neither head nor tail. He announced
that his topic for special exhortation
would be "Ds salvation of my FOUL
after it leaves dis poor body" The
rambling haranRue which followed
consisted principally OF broken and re-
peated sentences, mere ConglCmera-
ton Of words, without regard for con-
neCtion or meaning. lie said he felt
and knew he had made peace with
God. "Jeeus hiss gone on my bond,
and will never get of rs long ss his
name is Jesus, and his name ia Jesus
foreveTmcre
At this point he was informed that
mimi terra Ct the Gospel were present
and willing to read the Bible, sing and
pray with him. He appeared glsd at
the Interruption, and sat down. Three
colored preachers then went through
brief xercites, and when it came 10
the hymn the ovid joiued in. Alb We
all &C uld be distir city heard the rich
bsritC ne OF Gen. G. p. M Turner ard
the me 'odiouI tenor OF Q K Under
wood, who occupied ssas near the
trap.
WEAK AND DA2ED.
Throughout the religious exercises
Johnson nervously pstted his foot,
his breast hesved with suppressed
emotion, and low, mourniul and mo.
notonous sounds escaped his lips.
When all had exhausted themselves,
the prisoner was assisted to his feet
AMI placed on the trap. The black
cap was then adjusted, the moose
placed around his neck, and before
the doomed man was aware Sheriff
Werner sprung the lever, the trap fell
with a creaking noise and Johnson's
body dsrted
.s DOWN INTO SPACE
Just before the fall, johnson gave q
sudden turn, and as he went down
the knot slipped around to the back
of his neck, and spoiled the whole
business. The short fall, his light
weight and the slipping of the knot
prevented his neck from being broken
and strspgulstion was the result. The
hanging man gave but two or three
slight kicks, and then swung round
and round without apparent sign o.
life. His pulse, however, for fifteen
minntes indicated that death had not
arrived. At the end OF that time the
body was cut down and turned over tc
his friends.
And thus the ends Of justice were
served upon one guilty Of a heinou;
crime against deoenGy and the law
Good for Arkansas. Johnson Was the
fourth man hanged at Marion since
1891